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The atrium is the name that describes our classroom. It is a carefully
prepared environment where children
can foster their relationship with
God. It is a spiritual place more
like a retreat center than a classroom.
Shelves around the room are filled with natural materials that
appeal to the child’s senses.
The child’s experience in the atrium
helps to prepare them for involvement
in the larger worshipping community. Some refer to the atrium as
a place for conversation with God.
Where do I take my child?
3 years* - Kindergarten - Atrium of the GoodShepherd (*By
August 31, 2007)
This atrium is on
the ground floor, directly under the Great Hall.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades - Atrium of the True
Vine
This atrium is on the ground floor,
directly under the Great Hall.
4th and 5th Grades - Atrium of the
Kingdom
This atrium is on the ground
floor, and can be seen through the courtyard windows.
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You might wonder how “materials” can enhance the religious
life of a child. If,
for example, you hear
a beautiful passage from the Bible, you may find the same passage
and read the words again slowly to more completely appreciate
and understand them. You may think deeply about the words and
speak to God in a prayer about them. But a little child, especially
one too young to read, needs another way. In the atrium that
child can ponder the biblical passages or liturgical prayers
presented to them by working with the materials provided for
that text – placing wooden figures of sheep and shepherd in
the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting figures, representing
the apostles, around a Last Supper table, exploring The City
of Jerusalem, in miniature, or preparing a small altar with
tiny replicas of the same articles we use at Eucharist.
Older children can chose
from copying parables
from the Bible, laying (in order) written prayers from the rite
of Baptism, planning a liturgy, discovering what their spiritual
gifts may be, preparing a personal missal, or exploring, discovering
and labeling a time-line showing the history of the kingdom
of God.
These classes meet during
the Sunday school hour, from 10:00 am-10:50 am.
For more information
about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, please visit
www.cgsusa.org.
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